Democratic Party historic leader Sali Berisha said today the disgraced former chairman Lulzim Basha has been put under pressure from the United States through Nick Muzin’s file. He added that file will never be closed despite Basha’s and Premier Edi Rama’s efforts.

In 2017, a Scottish firm called Biniatta Trade, which was formed by two Belize-based shell companies, paid a Republican lobbyist and former Trump campaign aide named Nick Muzin for work in the United States to help the Democratic Party of Albania.

“The Nick Muzin file is one of the files with the most criminal history in lobbying. He made money transfers that are punishable by both US and Albanian law”, Berisha said today in Mirdita, where he met his supporters in the framework of his talking tour Foltorja across the country.

“Edi Rama had his process closed in Albania. The Albanian Prosecution Office requested Nick Muzin’s file and testimony from the United States. When the file came, Lulzim Basha was summoned and told that with that file here he could be sentenced to 12 years in prison, but he could also be sentenced in the United States. He was pressured either to oust Sali Berisha or give up on himself”.

“Of course, he chose the first option. But did he solve his problem? He did not. The lady (US Ambassador Yuri Kim) made a pact with the hostage Basha. But the US is the country of freedom and that affair will never be closed. It will haunt him all his life”, said Berisha.

The former Premier insisted there is nothing personal in his political battle with Basha.

“There is nothing personal in this battle. I can fend for myself and my dignity. I am fighting with you to restore freedom and sovereignty”, Berisha told his supporters in Mirdita.